PaísDI: Feasibility and effectiveness of an advocacy program for adults with intellectual disability and their stakeholders' groups in Chile

BACKGROUND: People with intellectual disability in Chile face individual and collective barriers to social participation. Lack of knowledge about their rights and tools for effective self-advocacy seem to be key elements that need to be improved to facilitate participation.

METHOD: We present PaísDI, a 16 h long manualised program created by self-advocates in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, with four modules: rights and intellectual disability, leadership in intellectual disability, effective communication and financial considerations of social projects. This quasi-experimental study had 349 participants, divided in three groups: people with intellectual disability, relatives and professionals. Feasibility and effectiveness where measured.

RESULTS: The program is shown to be viable and effective, especially in its impact on self-perception for self-advocacy activities.

CONCLUSION: The discussion highlights Chile's historic debt in creating policies that promote self-determination, knowledge and the empowerment of people with intellectual disability, to bolster their participation as citizens.